Ignition apparatus for flare stacks and the like

ABSTRACT

Ignition apparatus for flare stacks and the like is disclosed which includes air and combustible gas supply pipes connected to a flame pipe, the flame pipe having a spark plug to fire the gasair mixture in the flame pipe and provide a flame front, a flame splitter receiving the flame from the flame pipe and having interior walls dividing the flame into a plurality of flame sections for delivery through different flame tips at the top of a flare stack burner or other desired locations. Controls are provided to control the flow of the gas and air and of the flame.

United States Patent 1191 Straitz, III

[ 1 June 11, 1974 IGNITION APPARATUS FOR FLARE 3,606.61] 9/1971 Wright 431/202 STACKS AND THE LIKE I Primary Examiner-John J. Camby [75] Inventor. John F. Stranz, Ill, Jenkmtowm Pa. Attorney, Agent or Firm zachary T. wobensmith, [73] Assignee: Combustion Unlimited Incorporated, 2nd; Zachary T. Wobensmitt, lll

Elkins Park, Pa. 221 Filed; Feb. 15, 1973 f AZSTRACT d 1 gnition apparatus or are stacks an the ike is dis- [21] Appl 332624 closed which includes air and combustible gas supply pipes connected to a flame pipe, the flame pipe having [52] US. Cl 431/278, 431/192, 431/285 8 Spark P g e the g i i e in the flame [51] Int. (:1. F23g 9/00 p p and p i a fl m r m, a fl me plitter receiv- 58 Field of Search 431/192, 202, 278, 280, g the flame from the flame P p and having interior 431 /235, 236, 287 walls dividing the flame into a plurality of flame sections for delivery through different flame tips at the [56] References Cit d top of a flare stack burner or other desired locations. UNITED STATES PATENTS Controls are provided to control the flow of the gas 2,537,091 1/1951 Rodman et al. 431/192 and and of the flame 3,195,606 7/1965 Stout 431/285 X 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures O A? l O I e i a 52 I i 30 4a IGNITION APPARATUS FOR FLARE STACKS AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to ignition devices for flare stacks and the like and more particularly to apparatus which includes a flame splitter for dividing a flame and for delivering separate flame portions to different locations.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various devices have heretofore been proposed for igniting the gas at the top of a flare stack burner or the like. A common expedient is to employ a pilot which is kept burning continuously so as to be available if and when combustible waste gas is delivered to and through the flare stack for combustion. The pilot itself requires that gas delivered to it be ignited. Flare stacks may be from 125 to 250 feet in height or even higher and the location at which the ignition is to be effected is at the top of the stack.

It has heretofore been proposed as in the U.S. Patent to Smith, No. 2,830,658, to provide ignition apparatus for a flare stack pilot in which ignition of gas in a single tube is effected for delivery of a flame to the top of a stack by firing an explosive charge into the igniter tube.

The U.S. Patent to Schrader, No. 2,648,376, shows a flare stack igniter in which a spark plug is employed for igniting gas to provide an igniting flare.

Henwood, U.S. Pat. No. 2,696,875 and Proctor, U.S. Pat. No. 3,554,681, show other igniters.

It has also heretofore been proposed to ignite a flame and through a plurality of pipes deliver a flame to a plurality of locations which may all be at the top of a flare stack. The structure for this purpose has not proven wholly satisfactory because of the uneven distribution of flame which was obtained and the attendant uncertainty of ignition at the various locations.

The structure of the present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the devices heretofore proposed and particularly in the distribution of flame to a plurality of locations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention ignition apparatus is provided which is substantially self-contained with an air blower, a gas supply pipe with manual and solenoid controls for delivering air and gas to an igniter pipe, and an igniter for developing a flame front, a flame splitter being interposed for separating a plurality of flame sections for delivery to and through igniter pipes which terminate at the top of the stack or other locations at which ignition is to be effected by the flame front or fronts. Shut-off valves may be provided in igniter pipes which are not in use.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide ignition apparatus which is effective for providing a plurality of effective flame fronts.

It is a further object of the invention to provide ignition apparatus which includes a flame from generator and a flame splitter for separation of the flame front into a plurality of separate flame fronts.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a more effective ignition apparatus than has heretofore been available.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which:

FIG. I is a view in elevation, and partly diagrammatic, of ignition apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exterior view in perspective of a flame splitter employed in connection with the ignition apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal central sectional view, taken approximately on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal central sectional view, taken approximately on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view, taken approximately on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, a frame or housing F is provided within which certain of the components are contained for protection and for ease of access at a central location of such components.

An electric motor driven air blower is mounted within the frame F, and has an air inlet 11 and air delivery connection 12 which is connected by a pipe 13 having a non-return or check valve 14, an air pressure gage l5 and butterfly shut-off valve 16, to a flame pipe 17 for delivery of air to the flame pipe 17.

A combustible gas supply pipe 20 extending from outside the frame F is connected through a manually operable shut-off valve 21 to a pipe 22 which extends through a solenoid valve 23 to a gas delivery pipe 24 which is connected to the flame pipe 17 through an oriflce nipple 25 having a central orifice (not shown) for delivery of combustible gas to the flame pipe 17.

A bypass pipe 26 having a manually controlled shutoff valve 27 therein is connected around the solenoid valve 23. The pipe 24 preferably also has a fuel gas pressure gage 28 connected thereto.

The frame F also has thereon a control cabinet 30 within which such equipment as the motor starter for the blower l0, ignition timer, ignition transformer and the like is enclosed. The ignition transformer (not shown) in the cabinet 30 is connected by an insulated ignition cable 31 to a spark plug 32 in an ignition coupling 33. The coupling 33 preferably has a window or sight port 34 for observation of the action of the spark plug 32 and the presence of a flame in the flame pipe 17.

The flame pipe 17 extends to a flame splitter 40, which is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5.

The flame splitter 40 has a casing with outer parallel side walls 41 and diverging side walls 43 closed at the entrance end by a wall 45 with an internally threaded collar 46 to which the flame pipe 17 is connected. The delivery end of the flame splitter 40 is closed by an end wall 47 to which a plurality of internally threaded collars 48 are secured.

The interior of the flame splitter 40 is preferably provided with divider walls 49 secured to the end wall 47 and to the side walls 41. The divider walls 49 preferably extend about one third of the height of the flame splitter 40 and divide the area at their lower or entrance ends substantially equally, and at their exit ends at the wall 47 divide the area at that location substantially equally to separate or divide the approaching flame into substantially equal portions as hereinafter explained.

The collars 48 each has a pipe 52 connected thereto for flame delivery through a flame tip 53.

The flame tips 53 can all be located on one flare burner or can be disposed on a plurality of flare burners to ignite continuous pilots (not shown) at the top of the flare stack or at other desired locations or for direct ignition of the flare stack gas. Shut-off valves 54 can be provided in the pipes 52 for shutting off delivery of flame to one or more flame tips 53, if desired.

In use, combustible gas is supplied to and through the pipe 20, controlled by the valve 21, and either through the solenoid valve 23 or the bypass pipe 26 and valve 27, to the pipe 24 at the desired pressure and through the orifice nipple 25 to the flame pipe 17.

Air from the blower is supplied through pipe 13 past check valve 14 at the desired pressure to the flame pipe 17. The air flow to the flame pipe 17 can be controlled by the valve 16.

The gas-air mixture in the flame pipe 17 can be ignited by the spark plug 32 to provide an advancing flame front in the pipe 17 and therebeyond. As the flame advances in the pipe 17 it enters the flame splitter 40 where it is divided and isdelivered through the pipes 52 to the flame tips 53. One or more of the valves 54 can be closed if flame delivery through a particular a plurality of flame delivery tips connected to said outlet end wall for delivery of divided portions of flame to said tips for ignition.

2. Ignition apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said flame supplying means includes a flame pipe,

a combustible gas supply pipe connected to said flame pipe and supplying combustible gas thereto,

an air supply pipe connected to said flame pipe and supplying air to said flame pipe for combustion of the combustible gas, and

members for igniting the gas-air mixture in said flame pipe.

3. Ignition apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said air supply pipe has a motor driven fan connected thereto. 4. Ignition apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said casing between said inlet and outlet end walls has at least one pair of diverging side walls. 5. Ignition apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said flame delivery pipes are interposed between said divider means and said ignition tips, and

said flame delivery pipes have shut-off valves therein. 

1. Ignition apparatus for flare stack burners comprising flame supplying means, flame divider means connected to said flame supplying means and receiving flame therefrom, said flame divider means including a casing having inlet and outlet end walls and diverging between said inlet and outlet end walls, said casing in the interior thereof having at least one flame divider wall extending from the outlet end wall and separating the flame delivered to the casing into a plurality of separate flame portions, and a plurality of flame delivery tips connected to said outlet end wall for delivery of divided portions of flame to said tips for ignition.
 2. Ignition apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said flame supplying means includes a flame pipe, a combustible gas supply pipe connected to said flame pipe and supplying combustible gas thereto, an air supply pipe connected to said flame pipe and supplying air to said flame pipe for combustion of the combustible gas, and members for igniting the gas-air mixture in said flame pipe.
 3. Ignition apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said air supply pipe has a motor driven fan connected thereto.
 4. Ignition apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said casing between said inlet and outlet end walls has at least one pair of diverging side walls.
 5. Ignition apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said flame delivery pipes are interposed between said divider means and said ignition tips, and said flame delivery pipes have shut-off valves therein. 